Kennedy Kimberly Kay Killed in Odessa Truck Accident
The crash occurred when a semi-truck failed to yield the right of way on State Highway 302
Kennedy Kimberly Kay, 49, of San Angelo, was killed in a crash involving a semi-truck on State Highway 302 at West Yukon Road in Odessa on May 28, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
A westbound 2004 Peterbilt 379 semi-truck towing a trailer failed to yield the right of way while making a left turn. An eastbound 2024 Kia Sportage driven by Kay then struck the front end of the towed trailer.
Paramedics pronounced the driver of the Kia dead at the scene. The 38-year-old man driving the semi-truck was not injured.
Troopers continue to investigate the collision. No charges have been announced against the truck driver.
The fatal crash adds to a rising toll across the state. According to the National Safety Council, 5,340 people died in large‑truck crashes across the United States in 2024, a number that reflects the heavy toll these collisions take nationwide.
The sudden loss of a loved one in a commercial vehicle collision leaves families facing deep grief and complex administrative hurdles. While the community mourns, investigators will examine the truck driver's actions and the trucking company's safety protocols.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Commercial trucks require enormous stopping distances compared to passenger vehicles, and when speed enters the equation, that gap becomes catastrophic."
Experienced legal counsel knows how to secure event data recorder information before it becomes unavailable, ensuring the evidence needed to evaluate what happened in the final seconds before impact remains protected for surviving families, added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
How common are fatal truck crashes in Texas?
Texas consistently leads the nation in commercial vehicle death. Data from the National Safety Council indicates that large truck crashes remain a persistent threat on state highways, often resulting from failure to yield, driver fatigue, or improper turns.
"When a commercial driver fails to yield the right of way, the resulting liability often extends beyond the individual operator to the corporate entity that employs them," explained Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal.
What are the legal options for families after a commercial truck crash?
Families of victims killed in commercial collisions often pursue independent investigations to preserve critical evidence. This process typically involves securing electronic logging device data, dashcam footage, and corporate maintenance records before they can be altered or destroyed.
Texas wrongful death statute
Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.001, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Texas applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, funeral expenses, and mental anguish.